It’s a huge week on tour and a huge week at DraftStreet as we hit the second major of the year the U.S. Open . DraftStreet is offering the U.S. Open $100,000 Big Score contest where the winner walks away with $20,000. This year’s event is being held at Pinehurst No. 2 Below you will find my DraftStreet daily fantasy picks for the tournament this week. Come on and join me for a round!

Tour Stop

Pinehurst Resort (No. 2) is a 7,562 yard, par 70 course. It opened in 1907 and was last renovated in 2011. That 2011 renovation removed all rough which makes this an odd course for a U.S. Open as the USGA usually likes to grow rough anywhere it can on a U.S. Open course. The U.S. Open has been played here twice previously – in 1999 and in 2005.

Without rough (and generally no water to speak of either), the course may end up playing like a links course (without the nasty breezes off the water). As an added bonus, the course has some of the most punishing greens anywhere so golfers will need to hit their target on approach.

Field

The field is top of the line with 48 of the top 50 in the Overall World Golf Rankings in the field this year. It’s a major ya know.

Injuries

Tiger Woods isn’t here. Nor is Thomas Bjorn. I won’t go into much more depth, but I’d be leery of Kevin Stadler (who withdrew last week) and Sergio Garcia (who is coming off a knee injury) this week.

2005 Tournament Results

We won’t look at last year’s results as they are a completely different course. Below you’ll find the top 20 from the 2005 tournament which was also held at Pinehurst No. 2:

Let’s look at a few options this week.

DraftStreet Expert Picks

Jason Dufner |$17,464 – Back to back fourth place finishes at the U.S. Open gets me looking at Dufner. Four straight made cuts with a solo second in there puts him in the discussion for this week’s squad.

Billy Horschel | $14,659 – Horschel ties for sixth last week and his price drops over $3,000. He also finished fourth last year. Not sure why you wouldn’t be on him everywhere.

Billy Hurley III |$9,916 – Billy Billy Billy. No, I won’t continue to name only players with Billy as their first name. He’s got three straight cuts made and is 17 th in scrambling which I believe will be important this week. He made his way into the tourney via sectional qualifying so he’s got some mojo on his side as well.

Hideki Matsuyama | $16,957 – Matsuyama was 10 th last year and won in his last time out at the Memorial. He’s got four straight cuts made and has had success in majors in his short career.

Rory McIlroy | $28,561 – McIlroy won at Congressional in 2012 (a tournament I had the fortune to attend). He finished tied for 41 st last year. However, he’s firing on all cylinders right now with six top 10s in his last eight tourneys.

Phil Mickelson | $24,495 – He’s the sentimental favorite this week (maybe every week) as his memorable duel with Payne Stewart was at Pinehurst in 1999. Mickelson is also lights out at U.S Opens with six second place finishes on his resume. He’s moving to a claw grip to putt which would usually give me pause, but he’s so good on every track the USGA puts out there that he’s tough not to recommend.

Adam Scott | $27,787 – He’s the best golfer in the world right now. He’s got seven top 10s in his last 13 majors. This is all about current form for him right now.

Charl Schwartzel | $16,712 – My man! Four straight U.S. Open cuts made. He was 14 th last year, but that’s with a final round 78. He keeps the ball in play which will be key this week to ensure he can attack the greens.

Steve Stricker | $16,460 – Stricker has been quietly pretty effective on his limited tour of the tour. Ha! I made myself laugh. Stricker was tied for eighth last year so he’s a solid option.

Brendon Todd |$13,706 – Three straight top 10s on tour – perhaps Todd is the hottest player on tour currently. And for less than $14k, you can’t go wrong with him even if it is his first major tournament.

Check out my lineup as it sits right now.

Good luck this week! Head over to DraftStreet to choose your squad for this week.

DraftStreet Scoring

Roster size: 6 Golfers

Points Scoring
ALBA*   4.5 pts
EAG       2 pts
BRD        1 pt
PAR        0.2 pts
BGY        -0.6 pts
2BGY+   -1.6 pts

*ALBA = Albatross or double eagle

PLACE
1st                          8 pts
2nd                        5 pts
3rd                         4 pts
4th-10th               3 pts
11th-25th            2 pts
26th-50th            1 pt

Round Bonuses
BFR*      1 pt
LROD**                2 pts

*BFR = Bogey-free round
*LROD = Low round

Note :

1. Ties will not affect “PLACE” bonus. For example, if three players tie for 2nd they will all receive the 5 point bonus for 2nd place.

2. Playoff holes will not count towards scoring but can impact the place a golfer finishes.

3. Golfers who withdraw or are disqualified in the middle of a round will receive 0 fantasy points for that round.

4. If multiple golfers tie for low round of the day, full bonus points will be awarded to all of them.